Earlier this year, we highlighted how the YCW had been invited to support an exciting new project being set up in Leeds Diocese by the Leeds Justice and Peace Commission, which aimed at engaging more 16-30 year olds around the issue of Catholic Social Teaching.
The steering group has been making good progress on the project - named SPARK Social Justice - and a lead worker has been hired to deliver on the action plan. The first priority has been to establish a series of workshops aimed at young people, in order to determine the realities they face within their lives.
As part of this, contact with schools and parishes has already begun and there has been a effort to engage with young parents too. The project also has a social media presence, including a Facebook page, and posters have been produced to be put up around the Diocese.
The YCW experience of using the See-Judge-Act Method will inform how this initial phase goes and our National Training and Development Worker, Marc Besford, has agreed to sit on the steering group to help with this.
He said: “This is a really exciting project and the YCW are very happy to be involved in it. We know from our experience that when you let young people step up as leaders and listen to their voices, it can be an incredibly powerful thing. I’m hoping to see some great ideas coming out of this project over the coming years.”
